Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-25
DoCUhESTEA4H4 ma w4B zRcHITzs.
a Letter To General Grant From III, Chief OF.
stRf-AftsrWard Ills Secretary Of war.

Letter To General Grant From Fl, Chief OF.
stRh-AttsrWard Ills Secretary Of War.
FROM the Sew York sun.
BEFoEL NIc1sBURG, Miss. June 6. ls6g.
O'CLOCK, d. IN. (
DEAR GENERAL: The grea: soliclude I
feel tor the safety OF this army leads me to
mention ~ hat had hoped never again to do
the subject OF your drinking. This NAV
surprise you, for may oe and trust I ar
doing you an Injustice by Unfouuded suspi.
clons, but II an error It better 30 on the side
OF his couutry's safety thsI IN fear OF offend.
ing friend. nave heard that DR.. McNiI.
b IAN Al lFesi. Snerman's, few days ago, in.
duced you, Notwithstanding your pledge to
ms, TO take glass OF wine, aDd 20 day. when
found box Of vine in front OF your tent.
and proposed 10 move II, which | did | was
told you had forbid its being taken away, for
you Intended TO keep It unit! YOU entered
Nicksburg, that you might have 1t for your
friends and tonight when you should
because OF tho condition Of your haItb II
nothing else, have b0sn in bed, I fad Won
where the wine bottle has lust been emptied
In company with those who drink and urge
you to do Likewise, and the lack Of your
usual promplnes5 OF decision and Clearness
In expressing yourself ia writing tended 10
confirm my suspicious
You have the full control OF your appetite
and can let drinking alone. Had YOU not
pledged me the sincerity Df your honor early
last March that you would drink no more
during the war aud kept that pledge during
your recent campaign you would rot to-day
have stood ilrst IN the worlds history "a q
successful military leader. Your only saliva
lion depends upon your strict adherence to
that pledge You cannot succeed in auy
other way. As l have before stated NAV be
wrong in my suspicious, but II one sees that
which leads him to suppose a sentinel Is fall.
log asleep on his post Il is his duty 70 arouse
him and II one sees that which leads him to
Tear the general commanding great army is
being seduced 70 that step which he knows
VIII DTlng disgrace upOa that general and
defeat to Ris command, If hs fails to sound
Tue proper note Of warning, the friends,
wives and children OF those brave men
whose lives he permits 10 remain thus i'm.
psrl!led Will accuse him while hs lives and
stand swift witnesses of wrath against him
In the day when al shall be tried II nv
suspicious are uniOundeJ, lot my friendship
Tor you and my zeal for my country be my
excuse for this letter aud if they are cor
rectly founded, anu you determine not to
heed the admOnitiOns ana the prayers OF this
hasty note 10y Immediately ceasing TO touch
single drop OF any kind Of liquor, no mat
ter by whom asked or under wnat c!rcum-
stances, let my immediate relief from
uuty In this department be the result |
an general, your friend,
JOHN 4, RAwLIEs.
The retained copy OF this letter was
indorsed by General Rawlins as follows
inns IL an exact copy OF q letter given TO
the person to whom II IL addressed al ils
uate, ABOUT four miles from our head quarters
in the rear OF NiCksburg Il. admonitiOns
we're needed, aud all went VOL.
JOHN A. kAwLIEs.